Signal attachment for mail boxes



Juhe 12, 1923.

- W. A. M DOWELL SIGNAL ATTACHMENT FOR MAIL BOXES Filed Dec. 31, 1921 Q Zjnuwn for [Ki/V 50 well.

Patented June 12,1923.

WILLIAM A. MOLDOWELL, or sToUT, Iowa.

SIGNAL ATTACHMENT roa AIL BOXES.

Application filed December 31, 1921. s erial flo. 526,124.

To. all whom may concern:-

Be it known that .1, WILLIAM A. Mo

Downnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stout, in the county of Grundy and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal Attachments for Mail Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a signal device intended for attachment on mail boxes, in order to give a sign that may be seen from a distance, when mail has been deposited in the box.

Ordinary signals of this character are set by hand, and for this reason are not so dependable, as the letter carrier may forget or has not the time to raise the. flag, when he deposits mail in the letter box.

My signal device, being automatic, does not possess this disadvantage and no such neglect can effect it, as the mail cannot be deposited without causing the signal to be ven.

One object of the invention is to construct the device so that it may be readily attached to existin mail boxes.

One em diment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing; and,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box with my device attached;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with the signal housed or folded; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section along line 3-3 with the signal in displaying position.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a mail box such as is generally used in the rural districts and it has a large door 11 hinged at the bottom of the box as at 12 with a suitable lock 13 at the top. This door is provided in the usual manner with a slot for depositin 'mail in the box and a flap door 14 is hinge above the slot hanging downwardly over the same to cover the opening and which carries a pro'ecting finger 15, which constitutes a latch or the signal arm and will be more fully described further on.

On the side of the box 10 I attach by means of bolts or rivets, or any other suitable means, a casing 16 which may consist of a piece of ordina angle iron and has an u right end Wall 17 with side wings 18.

ear the inner end of the housing is situated a spindle 19 which forms a pivot for a signal arm 20 preferably made of channel iron. Around the spindle 19 is wound a coiled spring 21, which, with one end 22, engages the arm 20, and with itsother end 23 engages the casing 16 in such a manner that when the arm, 20 is free it will stand in upright position and the wall 17 of the housing vwill prevent it from swinging any further in the outward direction.

The end of the arm 20 carries a flag 24 beyond which the extreme end of the arm is beveled or rounded as at 25 on one side, and flat as at 26 on the other side. When thearm is swung downwardly into its housed position the beveled or rounded end 25 strikes the finger 15 so as to swing the flap door 14 outwardly to permit the arm to pass, and when the arm rests on the bottom of the casing 16 the flap door 14 with the finger 15 returns to its perpendicular position and in this manner engages with the flat face 26 of the arm 20 and retains it in thrown scribed comprising a casing-fsecuredon a mail box, an arm movably mounted therein, stops for engaging the arm in housed and display positions respectively, a spring for holding the arm in display, position and means for locking the arm in housed position.

2. An automatic signal for mail boxes comprising a casing secured on the mail box, an arm ivoted in the casing, stops for engaging t e arm in housedand display positions respectively, a spring .ada ted to hold the arm in display position an a latch on said box for locking the arm in housed position.

3. In combination with a mail box having a hinged door provided with a latch; of a signal arm, a casing therefor secured on said box, a spindle in sald casing upon which said arm is pivoted, a spring adapted to throw the arm into display position, a stop in said eitheendlof'gth 'arui '2 0 I. An automatic signal of thek'classf decured on said box, a spindle in said casing tu 10 upon which said arm is pivoted, a spring adapted to throw the arm into display po- 16 sition, a sto in said casing for said arm when in sai position, said arm having an element for opening said latch when said arm is swung into housing position and to engage with the latch to hold the arm in housing position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa- WILLIAM A. MCDOWELL. 1, 5.] 

